Date: Saturday 10th October, 2009
Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: sunny, slight breeze
Goals:
United: Pitt 45', Holroyd (pen) 53', Willmott 81', Crow 90'

United's first 'double' of the season as Courtney Pitt inspired United to a first win in five games with a goal just before half-time. Having set United on the way, Pitt then earned a penalty early in the second half that was converted by Chris Holroyd for his thirteenth goal of the season, and Robbie Willmott and Danny Crow put the icing on the cake of a comprehensive win.

Martin Ling named an unchanged side to face Ebbsfleet United, with goalkeeper Laurie Walker added to the bench in place of striker Mark Beesley who has joined Chester on a month's loan. Liam Daish made one change to the side that drew 0-0 v Crawley on Sunday, handing a debut to new midfielder Peter Holmes in place of Dean Pooley.

The pre-match build-up featured a samba band as the club welcomed people from the Soham and Ely areas to the South Stand, and the United team lined up for the first time in their new Greene King sponsored home shirts, but the early action was subdued and the visitors enjoyed most of the possession, their first threat coming on six minutes when new boy Holmes floated a dipping shot that Danny Potter watched carefully over the bar.

There were chances at both ends in the tenth minute when Robbie Willmott's free kick was hacked away by former U's man Gavin Heeroo and the visitors raced away on the counter, Cumbers chased into the area by Reason, and his shot was parried by Potter and cleared by Reason.

United had two good chances to break the deadlock on 16 when Chris Holroyd made a great run down the right and got behind the defence before crossing to Danny Crow, but his strike partner was stretching to reach the ball and could only divert it wide from close-range. Then within a minute Willmott's cross was met at the far post by Courtney Pitt but his shot was blocked by Cronin's legs and although Carden and Crow kept it in play it was cleared by last-ditch defending.

Play was scrappy and disjointed but there were chances for both teams. Danny Potter had to snatch a Holmes free kick on 21 and collected a Shulton cross two minutes later, while Willmott powered a first time shot well past the far post at the other end and on 25 his free kick fell for Brian Saah who put the ball wide.

Looking far more threatening at set pieces, United went close on 31 when Willmott's corner was flicked on by Hatswell's head and Gleeson got a foot to it but the shot spun off a defender, then on 37 Carden picked up a loose pass in midfield and drove at the defence before shooting wide from just outside the area.

Holroyd had been frustrated by the offside flag on a few occasions before he twisted and turned his way into the area four minutes before half-time, but then ran into the veteran Paul McCarthy who stood strong and Holroyd's halfhearted appeal for a penalty was in vain and a free kick was given against him.

Having enjoyed a better spell of play, United were almost caught out as stoppage time loomed when Shulton rode two challenges into the area and unleashed a shot that Potter pawed wide of the far post, Paul Carden clearing the resulting corner.

But with the crowd all but resigned to a disappointing goal-free half, three minutes into stoppage time Chris Holroyd caught Lance Cronin in two minds, and as he hesitated Holroyd rounded him and crossed to Courtney Pitt who leapt to head home in front of the Newmarket Road End. As the previously subdued home fans erupted in celebration, the little winger ran away holding his head in disbelief at scoring with his head.

Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A half where Ebbsfleet belied their reputation of being poor and in disarray and United struggled to get to grips with a positive opposition. The U's had chances early on but Ebbsfleet had most of the ball and Pitt's header at the end of the half came as a surprise to everyone."

Second half:
United resumed at a high tempo and had the visitors on the ropes from kick-off, and after three minutes Pitt released Willmott on goal but his cross was a yard too far ahead of Holroyd racing through the middle and Cronin smothered the ball.

Willmott also had a corner cleared, but on 52 United extended the lead from the penalty spot. Holroyd raced into space and again caught Cronin in two minds as he picked out a cross for Pitt, and as the winger turned in the area he was caught by McCarthy and brought down for a clear penalty. Chris Holroyd stepped up and, with the confidence of a man who has already scored three times from the spot this season, he lifted the ball over the diving Cronin and into the top of the net for his thirteenth goal of the season.

Liam Daish responded with a substitution, sending on young winger Michael West for Shulton, and the first booking followed on 57 when the Crow, who was covering a lot of ground and involved in a lot of United's play, released Pitt and he was dragged down by the ankle by McCarthy.

Using all the width of the pitch, both Pitt and Willmott had crosses hacked away before Ebbsfleet were sliced open with a slick attacking move but the final ball fell to Anthony Tonkin who sliced over the bar from near the penalty spot.

But Ebbsfleet were still lively on the break and Cumbers had a shot cleared behind by Saah on the hour, Gleeson clearing the resulting corner. Daish went for broke with 20 minutes remaining when he sent on forward Scott Ginty for Heeroo and switched to three at the back, with Welch and West acting as wingbacks.

With United's fullbacks pushing on, the defence standing firm and Reason and Crow constantly chasing and prompting, the change left the visitors looking vulnerable at the back and United took full advantage in the 81st minute. Pitt's excellent pass was taken in his stride on the edge of the area by Robbie Willmott, who switched it to his left foot and drew the keeper before scoring off the inside of the far post.

Ebbsfleet had a half-chance two minutes later when Carden was uncharacteristically caught in possession ten yards outside the area by Ginty who lifted a shot over the bar, but United were comfortable at this stage and Martin Ling took the opportunity to make three changes in the closing minutes. On 85 Lee Phillips replaced Holroyd, two minutes later Willmott made way for Andy Parkinson and in the 90th minute Sam Ives replaced Carden, all three men leaving the pitch to a deserved ovation.

Two of the substitutes were involved in the final goal in stoppage time, Ives moving the ball on with his first touch and Phillips unleashing a volley from the right of the area. It hit the bar but rebounded to Danny Crow just inside the area, and he looked up and curled a great shot over the keeper and just under the bar to notch the goal his play deserved.

Daish made one final change, sending on teenager Davis Abbey on for Holmes, and Phillips tested the keeper from the edge of the area before the final whistle marked a welcome first win in five games for the U's.

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott (Andy Parkinson 87'), Paul Carden (c, Sam Ives 90'), Jai Reason, Courtney Pitt; Chris Holroyd (Lee Phillips 85'), Danny Crow.
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Laurie Walker.

Ebbsfleet United:
Lance Cronin, Gavin Heeroo (Scott Ginty 69'), Leon Crooks, Paul McCarthy, Darius Charles; Kane Willis, Scott Shulton (Michael West 55'), Peter Holmes (Davis Abbey 90'), Ishmael Welch; Ricky Shakes, Lewis Cumbers.
Subs not used: Will Salmon, Matthew Lamprell.

Booked: McCarthy 57' foul

Referee: Mr Ian Smedley

Attendance: 3,668 (away 83)

Post-match summary by commentator Mark Johnson:
"A tale of two halves at the Abbey as United turned on the style in the second period to put Ebbsfleet to the sword. Before the break the visitors had purpose and possession and probably the better of things, but that rarest of all things, a Courtney Pitt header, changed the face of the match in first half stoppage time. After the break United seized control and Ebbsfleet collapsed. Chris Holroyd netted his thirteenth of the season from the penalty spot ten minutes after the re-start and effectively settled the match. Robbie Willmott made it three with a great finish ten minutes from the end and Danny Crow put the icing on the cake with a 90th minute contender for goal of the season."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Courtney Pitt - a collector's item of a headed goal and made two other goals as well in a sparkling performance. Honourable mentions for Brian Saah, who was back to his best in the centre of defence, Wayne Hatswell was as solid as a rock, and Jai Reason had his best game of the season."

Ref: Mr Smedley - seemed to get most of the major decisions right and communicated with the players well. 7/10."

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